Page 43 - WDT MAGAZINE IRELAND ISSUE WINTER 2018
P. 43
and Kilkenny, known as Ireland’s Ancient East, and
founded the cities of Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Wexford
and the first city in Waterford in 914. The former
invaders lived and fought alongside the Irish clans, in-
termarried, and allied themselves with Irish chieftains
endlessly fighting each other for power.
The influence of the Vikings in Ireland decreased
with their assimilation and the increasing power of
the southern Irish clans. The Battle of Clontarf in
1014 signaled the end of Viking power in Ireland with
a victory for the Irish legend, Brian Boru which ended
any Viking threat to the clans and the rule of Ireland.
On our tour of Waterford, we saw the Vikings’ Clockwise: Mary poses in front of a
legacy everywhere, from the names of bars and replica Viking ship. Ron is Reginald
nightclubs to the buildings and treasures they left the Viking who founded Waterford
behind. The most striking was Waterford’s impressive and the circular Viking stone building
Reginald’s Tower, the oldest civic building in Ireland, in known as Reginald’s Tower.
continuous use for more than 800 years. The mas-
sive circular stone fortress is named the Viking who
founded the city.
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